Restaurateur Amy Morton (Found) and James Beard Award-winning chef Debbie Gold have made manifest their three decades years of friendship and collaboration in the form of LeTour, a contemporary French brasserie with strong Moroccan influences in suburban Evanston. The round restaurant — a nod to the full-circle nature of the partners’ relationship, which began 30 years ago at Morton’s first restaurant — launched in late fall 2022 and continues to draw patrons for steak frites, classic Lyonnaise salad, and chicken tagine with green olives and apricots.

A rare Cambodian restaurant in Chicago serving traditional Khmer cuisine made its debut this summer, shining a long-awaited spotlight on the deep and complex flavors of the Southeast Asian country. In just a few months, owner Mona Sang (who lost her Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises job during the pandemic) has drawn hoards to Rogers Park with her menu — an often-changing assortment of classic Khmer dishes such as Nom Bahn Chok and Plear Sach Koh — and family’s riveting story of surviving the Cambodian genocide.

Ragadan is next in the great tradition of diners that serve as gateways to immigrant cuisine. As the Tribune notes, this Uptown fixture comes from a Jordanian American, and there’s standout falafel and a special burger, called the single Dan, with a za'atar-spiced mayo. A place where customers can find hummus, eggs, and pancakes? Sign us up.

Second Generation feels nostalgic, a neighborhood bistro that’s worth a special visit, one that questions the definition of American cuisine. The trio of owners are Asian American and proudly serve kimchi, pickled shrimp, and kalbi-marinated steak. And though the traditional presentations of these items are delicious, Second Generation fuses them with European tradition. This restaurant has something for everybody, including the famous Mott St burger. 

The Meadowlark, the diminutive and moody cocktail bar that made its fall debut in the same Logan Square corner that houses sister venues Lardon and Union, has already made a noteworthy splash with its opening menu from beverage director Abe Vucekovich, formerly of the Violet Hour. The lineup, presented in a beautifully designed and illustrated booklet, draws inspiration from the native birds of the Midwest with options such as the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, made with Bolivian brandy, Amontillado Sherry, amaro, and smoked orange bitters; and the Snowy Owl, a concoction of Quebranta Pisco with creme de cacao, orgeat, and a whole shaken egg. Future selections could channel the 1920s-era Parisian cocktail revolution or iconic New York City punk club CBGB. This space fills up quickly and reservations are highly recommended.

French cuisine is perched to be trendy once again in Chicago, enjoying the same surge in popularity it’s seen in New York in recent years. The project kicking off this renaissance is Obelix, the project from the Poilevey brothers — they grew up in the restaurant world watching their parents open Le Bouchon and Le Sardine. This modern bistro is a French American take with items like a foie gras taco and a menu section dedicated to duck. Also, look out for outstanding desserts; it wouldn’t be an terrible move to grab a nightcap and something sweet.

Indienne means “Indian” in French, and represents the blended philosophy at this River North restaurant which serves a tasting menu. Food, like kebobs, is presented through a fine dining lens with ingredients like duck and foie gras. This is an upscale Indian restaurant in the same vein as what legendary Indian chef Floyd Cardoz showed in New York. It’s also Chicago’s second Indian tasting-menu restaurant, and the options bear similarities with Wazwan in Wicker Park. Indienne also sports an extensive wine list and tea from Sparrow Coffee. 

The Chicago location of this Japanese chain features a stunning design with hexagonal booths and the restaurant’s famous Mega Ramen. Chicago famous Chinese restaurateur Tony Hu (Lao Sze Chuan) helped bring Kyuramen to River North. Beyond the Japanese snacks, there’s a full line of juices. 

Any time a bar opens with food from a chef who’s helmed a three-Michelin-star restaurant (Grace), eaters should take note. After, the companion lounge inside the same building as Ever, chef Curtis Duffy’s newest restaurant, shines with elevated bar bites such as duck wings, wagyu or hamachi skewers, and caviar flights. The experience, inside a dark and modern space, is unique and reservations are highly recommended.

Despite a frigid review, the owners of Michelin-starred Porto continue their mission of giving locals restaurants where they can taste different culinary traditions. Bambola keeps Bonhomme Hospitality Group’s reputation for elegantly designed dining rooms. The menu focuses on where the Silk Road takes travelers, with Turkish, Chinese, and Indian influences — among others. Diners will find dishes like spiced Israeli couscous, wok-fried risotto, and grilled tiger prawns.

Soule 2 brings a rare amenity to the neighborhood: a sit-down restaurant with a full bar. Owner Brigette Flagg says she wanted to see where she grew up flourish, and so she took her West Town operation (for now, closed) to the West Side. Find grits, wings, and other comfort food selections.

Chicago’s been waiting for this hot pot restaurant, a chain with more than 800 locations from China’s Sichuan province. They’ve Americanized the name (it’s Xiaolongkan elsewhere). Tony Hu (Lao Sze Chuan) helped bring the restaurant to Chicago; it opened its first American restaurant this summer in New York. There’s another in Houston, too. It’s a gorgeous restaurant that offers a trip through Chinese history, and Hu calls it the “most authentic” hot pot experience in town as it celebrates the communal dining tradition. 

The third restaurant from Virtue chef and Beard Award winner Erick Williams is a tribute to cajun and creole cooking. Named for his aunt, Daisy’s is a sports tavern with po’ boys, fried chicken, and cold beer. Hopefully it will give the South Side another anchor, a more casual spot to hang their hats.